Almanac note · Rules and licenses
Check a contractor license before the first deposit
Before hiring a California contractor, the CSLB license lookup helps you match the name, license number, trade, status, and complaint path.
Before a roof, kitchen, solar, fence, or repair job gets started, take two minutes with the CSLB license lookup.
Use the license number from the bid, truck, business card, or website. Match the business name, license status, and trade class to the work being offered. A name that sounds close is not the same as a match.
That quick check can save a lot of confusion. The person selling the job may use a different name than the licensed business. A license may cover one trade but not another. A project may also involve salespeople, subcontractors, or a home improvement salesperson registration.
Keep the estimate, contract, payment record, photos, messages, and start date together. If the job later feels off, those details make the CSLB complaint path easier to use.
The license search will not tell you whether a contractor is the perfect fit. It is a first screen before money and work start moving.
Where to see it
Contractors State License Board license lookup and complaint pages.
Official sources
Official source trail
Reviewed July 3, 2026
California Porch explains the path. The official source is still the place to confirm the current rule, fee, form, map, deadline, or office decision.
Use the official page before you spend money, file paperwork, rely on a deadline, or change a property.
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